The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires 31 industries, which cover 85 percent of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, to track and report their emissions beginning in 2010 through the Greenhouse Gas Mandatory Reporting Rule. “Gathering this information is the first step toward reducing greenhouse emissions and fostering innovative technologies for the clean energy future,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
In March, the U.S. EPA announced they are expanding the scope of their GHG mandatory reporting rule to include more of the oil and natural gas sector, large fluorinated gases emitting sources and carbon sequestration. These sources would be required to track their emissions beginning in 2011.
Public comment is currently open on this proposed rule expansion and the EPA will be holding web-based training and Q&A sessions.
Unsure whether your business is required to disclose its greenhouse gas emissions?
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to learn more about your carbon footprint and to implement a plan to quantify and reduce it.

Carbonfund.org partner Virgin America was recognized as the Most Eco-Friendly Airline in the SmarterTravel Editors' Choice Awards. The green achievements are a major reason why Carbonfund.org was so thrilled to partner with Virgin America to help them further reduce their carbon footprint.
Some of the green initiatives that Virgin America has undertaken:

While at a friend’s wedding this past weekend I experienced a rarity: men talking fashion. Our table held five couples, and at some point during dinner all of the guys at our table started talking about the fit of their dress shirts. Each had their own challenges in the quest for the perfect fitting shirt. Joe’s arms were too long; Steve had broad shoulders and a narrow waist; while Jeremy’s neck size was shockingly large (and he’s is a pretty small guy). The conversation lasted a remarkably long time with each telling the other where to procure the best shirts and the girls sitting in silence, shocked by how excited their husbands were about the topic.
Just a week later, I have the perfect solution for these fit-frustrated guys. Recent Carbonfund.org Business Partner Solosso provides premium custom dress shirts in the finest fabrics, tailored to your exact fit. Pick your style and fabric and enter your measurements and your tailor-made shirt will be shipped to you free of charge!
In addition to their high quality shirts, Solosso aims to run a socially responsible and environmentally friendly organization that produces sustainable products. They hold their suppliers to high environmental standards, use packaging made from 95% and 100% recycled materials and offset all of their shipping and business operations emissions. They work hard to continually minimize the environmental impact of their organization and, with the help of their partnership with us, to offset their carbon footprint.
To get that perfect fit for you, or the guy in your life, check out www.solosso.com/en.

Having a great weekend and minimizing your footprint on our planet can go hand in hand. In 2009, an estimated 32.4 million Americans took some type of trip for Memorial Day weekend and traveled at least 50 miles. That’s a lot of gas—about 54 million gallons based on an average fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon. Here are some ways to make the most of your weekend while minimizing your carbon footprint.

Check out what’s going on locally! Many cities and towns have parades, fairs, fireworks shows and other events to commemorate Memorial Day and for residents to enjoy the official start of summer activities.

Share your culinary skills with family & friends! Host a summer barbeque, and to minimize your work in the kitchen, ask guests to bring a dish or help with the meal.

Take transit! See if you can take public transit and save on gas too. Have you considered taking Amtrak? Train trips can be fun for the kids and the whole family.

Offset your travel footprint: if you’re driving, flying or taking other modes of transportation, you can offset your footprint affordably and support great projects to advance a clean energy future.

Take in a baseball game! Whether it’s your local team or the major leagues, you’re likely to find a game that weekend to enjoy.

You don’t have to travel far to enjoy Memorial Day weekend, but if you will, remember you can reduce your footprint by offsetting in support of third-party validated carbon reduction projects. Learn more about reducing your footprint at our Save Energy page!

Next week the EcoFriendly Expo is bringing green to the Big Apple. Held at the swank 7 W across from the Empire State Building in Manhattan, the event will showcase the best in high-end design, architecture, transportation, travel, art and fashion. As they say, they’re bringing green to a grand new level.
Julian Zugazagoitia, director of the Museo del Barrio, Ben Jervey, author of The Big Green Apple, Robert Ferry and Elizabeth Monoian from the Land Art Generator Initiative, and members of The Bloomberg Administration will headline the Expo’s biggest draw, the Power of Green Lecture Series. Leaders in their fields, these speakers will highlight the value and business case for acting sustainably. The Expo will highlight New York’s environmental leadership and its commitment to the Global Community by supporting industries of the future and the US economy.
On top of bringing people together to create partnerships and foster sustainable growth, the EcoFriendly Expo is CarbonFree®. $1 from every ticket will be donated to Carbonfund.org to offset the carbon footprint of the show.
Tickets are almost a steal at $10 each and they are going fast. Make sure you don’t get left out of this year’s hottest green event! Purchase yours here.

Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, has asked their over 100,000 suppliers to reduce 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2015--the emissions reductions are equivalent to removing some 3.8 million cars from the road for one year. Wal-Mart plans to meet their goal by focusing on the products with some of the highest carbon footprints, like milk and meat products.
Like many retail stores, most of the carbon emissions that Wal-Mart is responsbile for are not generated within the four walls of their stores: they orgininate from the manufaturing and shipping of the products, long before they reach Wal-Mart's shelves. By requiring emissions reductions from their suppliers, Wal-Mart is tackling the biggest component of their carbon footprint.
Wal-Mart is working with those suppliers to reduce emissions and will jointly account for the reductions. This means that suppliers need to assess and track emissions accurately, reliably and verifiablly. To ensure methodology, completeness and correct calculations of emissions assessments quality assurance checks will be performed at all levels of the supply chain. To learn how Carbonfund.org can help your business manage and reduce the carbon emissions associated with your products,
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today.

In order for companies to fulfill their reportinging requirements they must be able to identify their carbon impact and how a changing climate may impact their business. Carbonfund.org provides many carbon management services for businesses to help the quantify their carbon footprint and actively manage their impact. Stay ahead of this requirement:
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today to learn more about your the carbon footprint of your business.

Congratulations to our partner JetBlue! The airline is highlighted for "True Green - Creative Conservation" in today's special Globe 100 section of The Boston Globe. JetBlue enables travelers to reduce their carbon footprint by offsetting the emissions of their flight in support of three carbon reduction projects, including wind power, landfill methane capture, and the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation Project in Louisiana.
JetBlue also offsets the business travel of its own crewmembers. “We can’t ask our customers to do something that we’re not doing,’’ said Gina Rauscher, manager of corporate social responsibility. Icema Gibbs, JetBlue's director of corporate social responsibility, noted, “We have seen a lot of pickup from our customers. People are continually saying that this is great.’’
Check out the article in today's Globehere! If you're flying JetBlue, please visit: www.carbonfund.org/jetblue to reduce your travel footprint.